Crystal and bezel assembly



I y 1, 1957 H. DINSTMAN\ CRYSTAL AND BEZEL ASSEMBLY Filed April 15, 1956FYMAQ AI'IZN/Vf) JNVENTOR. DINSTMAN United States Patent CRYSTAL ANDBEZEL ASSEMBLY Hyman Dinstman, New York, N. Y.

Application April 13, 1956, Serial No. 577,989

4 Claims. (CI. 58-91) This invention relates to an improved crystal andwatch bezel.

The invention concerns a means for mounting a transparent flexibleplastic crystal in a watch bezel in an easy and effective manner.

It is a principal object to provide an improved mounting means for awatch crystal.

It is a further object to provide a crystal with a plurality of lateralprojections for engagement in correspond ing recesses in a bezel.

It is a further object to provide a simpler and more economicalstructure for a fancy watch bezel to secure a crystal therein.

For further comprehension of the invention, and of the objects andadvantages thereof, reference will be had to the following descriptionand accompanying drawings, and to the appended claims in which thevarious novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawings forming a material part of this disclosure:

Fig. l is a plan view of a watch with bezel and crystal embodying theinvention, parts being shown broken away.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional view taken on lines 22 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an oblique plan view of the crystal showing the mounting lugs.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken on lines 4-4 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is an oblique plan view of a watchcase showing a bezel accordingto the invention.

In Fig. 1 the watchcase has a substantially rectangular frame 11 inwhich is set the rectangular crystal 12. The body of the crystal andframe may be bowed or arcuate as shown in Figs. 2, 4 and 5. A ledge 13is provided at each side of the rectangular wall or rim 14 of the frame.The ledge 15 is on a lower level than ledge 13 at each end of the frame.Just above the ledges in the sides of wall 14 are arcuate slots orrecesses 16, 17 adjacent ledges 13 and 15, respectively. The crystal isprovided with laterally disposed lugs 18 and 19 which fit into therecesses 16 and 17 respectively. The ends 20 of the crystal body aredeeper or depend further from the body than the sides 21 and the lugs 19are consequently on a lower level than lugs 18. Recesses 17 aresimilarly on a lower level than recesses 16.

The watchcase is provided with the strap supports 22 in which arerecesses 23 for engagement of a suitable pintle of a watch band.

Crystal 12 will generally be formed by a suitable molding method oftransparent material such as an acrylic, butyrate, urea, epoxy or otherplastic. The material must be rather hard to resist scratching, yet mustbe flexible to a limited extent. This flexibility is necessary becausethe sides 20 and 21 must flex slightly as the lugs are snapped into therecesses 16 and 17. Once the crystal is mounted in this manner withsides 20, 21 juxtaposed to the sides of wall 14, the crystal will notcome loose under all ordinary conditions encountered in daily use of awatch of the type shown. It is not necessary that the crystal andwatchcase be bowed. They may be flat if desired.

The present invention makes it unnecessary to use glue, gaskets orpacking to secure the crystal in the bezel. Also the simplified lug andrecess structure avoids the diflicult slots and grooves heretofore usedfor mounting crystals in watch bezels. The present slots 16 and 17 areeasily made with a rotary cutter. If desired these slots may be madewith flat rather than curved inner surfaces. Also the lugs 18 and 19 maybe made curved to correspond in curvature to the recesses 16 and 17.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiment of myinvention, it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to theprecise construction herein disclosed and that various changes andmodifications may be made within the scope of the invention as definedin the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by United States Letters Patcut is:

1. A watch crystal and bezel, said bezel having a rectangular frame,said frame having an inside rectangular wall with an arcuate recess ineach side of said wall, said wall having two pairs of ledges locatedthereon, with one pair of ledges being at a lower level than the otherpair of ledges, each of the arcuate recesses being placed just above oneof the ledges and being centrally disposed thereon, said crystal havinga rectangular body with depending sides, one pair of sides dependingfurther from said body than the other pair, each of the depending sideshaving a lug protruding therefrom and engaged in a corresponding one ofsaid recesses, with the depending sides of the crystal abutting thesides of said wall.

2. A watch crystal having a rectangular bowed body with depending sides,one pair of said sides depending further from said body than anotherpair of sides, each of said sides having a protruding lug thereon, saidbody and sides being formed of transparent, flexible, plastic material.

3. A Watch bezel for a crystal, comprising a rectangular frame having arectangular inside wall, two opposite ends of said wall being deeperthan two sides of said wall, each of said sides and ends having a ledgethereon with a recess formed therein adjacent the ledge, said recessbeing adapted to engage a corresponding lug of said crystal.

4. A watch bezel for a crystal, comprising a bowed rectangular framehaving a rectangular inside wall with a pair of sides and a pair ofends, said ends being deeper than said sides, each of said sides andends having a ledge at the bottom thereof with an arcuate recess formedtherein adjacent the ledge to engage a corresponding lug of saidcrystal.

Morf Dec. 2, 1941 Fengler May 31, 1955

